2020 National Academic Symposium on Ideological and Political Education Held at Lanzhou University
Advancing the Innovation and Development of Ideological and Political Education in the New Era through Upholding Fundamentals and Breaking New Ground: The 2020 National Academic Symposium on Ideological and Political Education Convened at Lanzhou University
In order to deeply study and implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on ideological and political work, as well as to realize the spirit of the National Education Conference, the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work, and the Symposium for Teachers of School Ideological and Political Theory Courses, the "2020 National Academic Symposium on Ideological and Political Education" was convened at Lanzhou University on October 24 to promote the innovative development of ideological and political education in the New Era. The theme of this symposium was "Innovation and Development of Ideological and Political Education in the New Era."
Attendees of the opening ceremony included Jiang Hui, Member of the Party Group of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Director of the Institute of Contemporary China, and Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies; Yan Chunhua, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and President of Lanzhou University; Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Party Committee of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies; and Wang Chengyong, Deputy Minister of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee. Cao Aihui, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Lanzhou University, presided over the opening ceremony.
Director Jiang Hui Delivers Opening Remarks
At the opening ceremony, Director Jiang Hui delivered the initial speech. He pointed out that at a time when the current education system and the broad ideological and theoretical circles are deeply studying and implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech on the construction of ideological and political theory courses, deeply exploring the innovation and development of ideological and political education in the New Era possesses a special and important practical significance. He noted that ideological and political education work is a vital task for strengthening Party building and consolidating the Party’s governing foundation. The fact that our Party has been able to unite and lead the people in conducting a "great struggle" [1] and achieving "great victories" is inseparable from the Party's consistent emphasis on ideological and political education. He emphasized that General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important expositions on ideological and political education work constitute an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, providing the "fundamental follow" [2] for advancing the innovation and development of ideological and political education in the New Era. Regarding the advancement of these goals through upholding fundamentals and breaking new ground, he shared four points: first, to keep pace with the Party’s theoretical innovations and promote Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to increasingly take root in the hearts of the people; second, to center on the core tasks and serve the overall national interest, pooling strength and consensus to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; third, to base efforts on the "two overall situations" [3] and fully demonstrate the significant advantages of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and fourth, to focus closely on the growth experiences and characteristics of contemporary youth, striving to cultivate the "new people of the era" who will shoulder the great responsibility of national rejuvenation.
President Yan Chunhua Delivers Opening Remarks
On behalf of Lanzhou University, President Yan Chunhua expressed his warm welcome and sincere gratitude to the attending experts. He pointed out that since the 18th CPC National Congress, Lanzhou University has deeply studied and implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping's series of important speeches on education and ideological and political work. The university has adhered to the socialist orientation of schooling, attached great importance to ideological and political work and Marxist theoretical education, and focused closely on the central task of "fostering virtue through education" [4] (立德树人). It has comprehensively promoted innovation in the university's ideological and political work to improve its targeting and effectiveness. Finally, he expressed hope that the participating experts and scholars would engage in full exchange to promote the innovative development of ideological and political education in the New Era, providing guidance and assistance to Lanzhou University's ideological and political work and helping to comprehensively enhance the development of the School of Marxism.
Deputy Minister Wang Chengyong Delivers Opening Remarks Secretary Xin Xiangyang Delivers the Keynote Report Deputy Secretary Cao Aihui presides over the opening ceremony
Deputy Minister Wang Chengyong extended his congratulations on the convening of the symposium. He pointed out that the Gansu Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government have always regarded the comprehensive strengthening of ideological and political work as a top priority among all tasks, resolutely implementing the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education. He emphasized that, based in the New Era, promoting the innovative development of ideological and political education requires: first, studying and interpreting the "Dao" [5] (principles) of ideological and political education; second, the "Shu" (methods); third, the "Ye" (profession/vocation); and fourth, the "Ben" (foundation), continuously deepening theoretical research and practical innovation in the field.
Secretary Xin Xiangyang delivered a keynote report titled "The Innovative Development of Ideological and Political Education in the New Era Must Adhere to the Unity of Political Nature and Academic Rigor." He pointed out that in any class society, the mainstream ideology emphasizes the unity of political nature and academic rigor. Marxism is a scientific theory characterized by a high degree of unity between the two. Regarding how ideological and political education in the New Era can maintain this unity, he proposed three points: first, to speak of politics through penetrating academic logic, making politics "scholarly"; second, to persuade people with thorough ideological and theoretical constructs, using thorough theory to discuss politics; and third, to guide people with the powerful force of truth, using truth to speak of politics.
Participating experts and scholars engaged in extensive and in-depth exchanges and discussions centered on "Innovation and Development of Ideological and Political Education in the New Era." Professor Tian Xinming, former Director of the Ministry of Education’s Social Science Development Research Center for Higher Education, delivered a report titled "'Persuading Students with Thorough Ideological Theory'—Studying Xi Jinping's 'Ideological and Political Courses are the Key Courses for Implementing the Fundamental Task of Fostering Virtue through Education'." Professor Sun Xiguo of the Peking University School of Marxism and Executive Vice President of the Peking University Institute of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, spoke on "Several Relationships to be Handled Well in Promoting the Reform and Innovation of Ideological and Political Theory Courses." Professor Wang Shuyin of the Beijing Normal University School of Marxism spoke on "The Value Orientation of One Hundred Years of Ideological and Political Education of the Communist Party of China." Professor Gao Guoxi of the Fudan University School of Marxism lectured on "The Mission of Ideological and Political Education in the New Era." Professor She Shuanghao, Dean of the Wuhan University School of Marxism, spoke on "The Powerful Ideological Weapon for Promoting the Innovative Development of Ideological and Political Education—Studying General Secretary Xi Jinping's Series of Important Speeches on Ideological and Political Work." Professor Wang Xuejian, former Dean of the Lanzhou University School of Marxism, spoke on "National Governance and the Innovative Development of Ideological and Political Education in the New Era." Researcher Yu Bin, Director of the Marxist Principles Department of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, spoke "On Values." Jiang Xudong, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Ideological and Theoretical Education Guide (思想理论教育导刊), spoke on "The Dialectical Characteristics of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Important Expositions on the Construction of Ideological and Political Theory Courses." The keynote report sessions were presided over by Researcher Liu Zhiming, Director of the Department of Marxian Sinicization Studies at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, and Professor Zhang Xinping, Dean of the Lanzhou University School of Marxism.
The thematic presentation sessions were moderated by Researcher He Xinyuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Marxian Sinicization Studies at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies; Professor Fu Huifang, Executive Vice Dean of the Fujian Normal University School of Marxism; Associate Professor Li Nan, Executive Vice Dean of the School of Marxism at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; and Professor Yang Hongwei, Vice Dean of the Lanzhou University School of Marxism. Liu Xianchun, Tan Yangfang, Hu Wei, and Sheng Shaoqing gave thematic presentations on General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on ideological and political work. Wang Zongli, Shi Hongbo, Xu Zhiyuan, and Wang Shengzhen spoke on the innovative development of the basic theory of ideological and political education in the New Era. Liu Xuanqi, Fu Huifang, Song Youwen, and Liu Ailing discussed national governance and the innovative development of ideological and political education in the New Era. Li Baogeng, Xu Guanting, Zhang Lin, and Gong Changrui focused on the innovative development of ideological and political theory courses in the New Era.
At the closing ceremony, Researcher Li Chunhua, head of the Ideological and Political Education discipline at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, and Professor Cai Wencheng, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Lanzhou University School of Marxism, delivered summary remarks. Professor Li Chunhui, Dean of the School of Marxism at Inner Mongolia Normal University, the host of the next symposium, delivered an invitation speech.
This symposium was hosted by the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and Lanzhou University, and organized by the Department of Marxian Sinicization Studies at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and the Lanzhou University School of Marxism. More than 200 experts and scholars from universities and research institutes such as the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, Renmin University of China, Beijing Normal University, Nankai University, Fudan University, Wuhan University, Nanchang University, and Baise Cadre Institute (百色干部学院), as well as heads of academic journals such as Marxist Studies (马克思主义研究) and Ideological and Theoretical Education Guide, attended the meeting.